noun
Common
shooter
SHOO-tuh
Shooter (noun) means a person who fires a weapon. Example: “The sport shooter practised at the range every Saturday morning.”
noun
1
A person who fires a weapon.
"The sport shooter practised at the range every Saturday morning."
"A skilled shooter hit every target in the clay pigeon contest."
"Police are still searching for the shooter."
2
A video game centred on shooting enemies or targets.
"My brother plays a space shooter on his console every evening."
"This shooter lets you team up online with friends."
"The new shooter sold a million copies in its first week."
3
A small glass of a strong alcoholic drink meant to be drunk in one go.
"The barman poured a shooter and slid it across the counter."
"She laughed and knocked back her shooter in one go."
"They ordered a round of shooters at the bar."
How to use shooter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who shoots, a shooting-based video game genre, or a small strong drink.
Common pairings
first-person shooter
do a shooter
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Word forms
- Plural
- shooters
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The sport _____ practised at the range every Saturday morning.
Etymology
From shoot + -er, formed the same way as many English agent nouns.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shooter
See all rhymes for shooter →Frequently asked questions
What does “shooter” mean?
The word “shooter” means a person who fires a weapon. In plain terms, someone who shoots, a shooting-based video game genre, or a small strong drink.
How do you pronounce “shooter”?
“Shooter” is pronounced SHOO-tuh (/ˈʃuːtəː/ in IPA).
How do you use “shooter” in a sentence?
Here is “shooter” used in a sentence: “Police are still searching for the shooter.”
What part of speech is “shooter”?
“Shooter” is a noun.
Is “shooter” a common word?
“Shooter” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shooter” have?
“Shooter” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who fires a weapon.
What is the difference between a "shooter" and a "shot" in drinks?
Both are small glasses of strong alcohol meant to be drunk in one go, and many bars treat the words as interchangeable. Where a distinction is made, a "shot" is usually a straight pour of a single spirit, while a "shooter" is often a small mixed or layered drink.
What is the difference between a first-person shooter and a third-person shooter?
Both are shooters — video games centred on shooting enemies or targets. In a first-person shooter (FPS) you see the action through the character's own eyes, while a third-person shooter shows your character on screen, usually from behind, which changes how aiming and awareness of your surroundings feel.
Is a "shooter" the same as a "gunman"?
The words overlap but differ in tone. A "shooter" is, neutrally, any person who fires a weapon, including sport and target shooters, while "gunman" almost always implies an armed criminal or attacker. Only "shooter" fits harmless contexts such as clay-pigeon shooting.
